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 Song Info: |
It's about time we had a new Christmas record....
This song has had quite an overhaul to bring it into the present. It's original title was "Hap-Hap-Hap-Happy New-Wave Christmas", which was, of course, relevent in 1978 but doesn't mean anything in 2005. "New Wave" as a descriptive term does not seem to have carried forward into todays music culture - unlike "punk" - which seems to be used these days to describe any form of music that does not originate from Pop Idol or one of its clones!
My theory on Christmas singles is this: Once Christmas day is over the single is in the bin! However, New Year is still a week away.... Sneaky, eh?
This song has now been re-mixed for Christmas 2005 and features brand new vocals from Dev Devilish...
Instruments used: Drums and Bass (digital - sorry!), Fender Stratocaster and lots of rowdy new year revellers! |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Filesize: |
4.0MB |
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| Song Info: |
Trendy Kids
What can I say!
The first song written for the Sussed - and based on someone we all knew very well!
Running in at less than two minutes, but highly memorable nonetheless!
This 2005 re-recording of "Trendy Kids" is the first time the song has ever been recorded with drums!
Enjoy! |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Filesize: |
1.5MB |
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| Song Info: |
Eastbourne
This is one of the VERY FIRST "Sussed" song written by myself and David Powell (Dave Bass) - the original founders of the band. It was a reflection of the time we spent during the early half of 1977 living in the sleepy south coast town of Eastbourne, and planning the formation of our own punk band and later, we felt sure, world domination!
This version is as close to the original as possible - and has no "tweaks" or "changes" and maintains its manic 2.05 running time!
This track is very special to me, not only because is it the first "Sussed" song Dave and I wrote, and this new recording is also the first time Dave and I have recorded together again in 26 years!
Instruments featured - Yamaha DTExpress digital drums, Fender Jazz Bass and Gordon Smith Gyspy 2 Melody Maker.
(Special Note - In view of the crazy speed of this song, I have included a copy of the lyrics so as you can keep up!)
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| Lyrics: |
Eastbourne
Suntrap of the south
Sail in the river mouth
Take a bus into town
You can't even sit down
There's only single deckers
To stop the upstairs felt-tip wreckers
And there's a row of shops
And a beach and then it stops!
In Eastbourne - You're gonna loose track of time
In Eastbourne - You gotta be 89
In Eastbourne - You're gonna loose all your money
In Eastbourne - And they say that WE speak funny!
When you go out of a night
You gotta dress right
And you gotta wear a shirt
Or they treat you like dirt!
You can't go out at 7
'Cos the pubs shut at 11
But there's a row of shops
And a beach and then it stops
In Eastbourne - You're gonna loose track of time
In Eastbourne - You gotta be 89
In Eastbourne - You're gonna loose all your money
In Eastbourne - And they say that WE speak funny!
Repeat first verse
Repeat chorus
(c) Kevin Law/David Powell - 1977
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| Lyrics Author: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Filesize: |
1.9MB |
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| Song Info: |
Seaside Rumble
Here's another song from the original Sussed arsenal! Written and dedicated to a lone "teddy boy" awash in a sea of "punk rockers" spotted on the beach at Brighton in 1977!
Again it's fast, manic and runs in at a highly respectable 2.11 - that would have been 11 seconds too long in 1977!
Re-recorded in 2005 (again keeping as faithful to the original as possible) and, once again, featuring myself and Dave providing the racket!
Instruments featured - Yamaha DTExpress digital drums, Fender Jazz
Bass and Gordon Smith Gypsy 2 Melody Maker...
(Special Note - I have included the lyrics so as you can keep up!)
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| Lyrics: |
Seaside Rumble
I'm looking our to sea, see the waves roll in
Take it to the streets, is it really a sin?
I don't wanna get a nice sun tan
I'm just here to spoil your plan
Seaside Rumble
Too many people think we're so new
But I was here before all of you
Looking for a scene, or just take a chance
I wanna go to Wigan but I can't f***ing dance!
Seaside Rumbe
Repeat first verse and chorus
(c) Kevin Law/David Powell - 1977
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| Lyrics Author: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Filesize: |
2.0MB |
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| Song Info: |
Another very early Sussed track given a 2005 make over! This was a genuine reflection of the times (1977) and all set to a "laid back" classic punk riff!
This one will always be one of MY personal favourites!
Instruments used: Yamaha DTExpress III digital drums, Fender Jazz Bass and Gordon Smith Gypsy 2 Melody Maker. |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Filesize: |
3.2MB |
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| Song Info: |
Snow Hill
This is a song that is very personal to Birmingham (UK) where the Sussed emerged from. It was inspired after a photo shoot of the band at an abandoned (and scheduled for demolition) Victorian railway station in the heart of the city. We knew this particular station (Snow Hill) had been where hundreds (thousands?) of young men - the same age as us - had departed for the trenches in France during World War One.
We felt GENUINELY concerned that for those fallen soldiers there would soon be no station for their ghosts to return to! Heavy stuff for 16 year olds!...or was it just an excuse to bash out another kick-ass punk song?
(Again, lyrics are provided)
Instruments featured - Yamaha digital drums, Fender Jazz Bass and
Gordon Smith Gypsy 2 Melody Maker. |
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| Lyrics: |
Snow Hill
You’re just a pile of rubble
Due to the progress race
They’re gonna knock you down now
To make a parking place
They left you for many years
And let you decay
Now you’re just a playground
Somewhere for the bored kids to play
Snow Hill
Going out of the city
People pass you every day
You used to be pretty
You’re just something out of the way
Back in 1914
The soldiers went off to war
But they can’t come back now
There’s no station anymore… at
Snow Hill
Now your lines are all rusty
And your signals are dead
I think we need a better station
That’s what the people all said
Couldn’t keep up the pace
‘Cos things are getting faster
A piece of history dead
The days of steam are over
Snow Hill
(c) Kevin Law/David Powell - 1977 |
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| Lyrics Author: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law/David Powell |
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| Filesize: |
2.3MB |
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| Song Info: |
Don't Know What I'm Here For
Quite a departure for the Sussed. This song verged on progressive rock fused with reggae!
I have given this song a "slight" tweak for its 2005 re-recording and have taken the tempo down slightly and changed a few lyrics. The (intended) message should still remain the same.... Depression is a serious thing, particularly for a 17 year old...
Instruments featured: Yamaha DTExpress III digital drums, Fender Jazz Bass and Gordon Smith Gypsy 2 Melody Maker |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law |
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| Filesize: |
3.4MB |
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| Song Info: |
I Like You
Well, here it is - you can call it sacrilege if you want – I don't care! It’s my song, so there!
Here is the long awaited re-write/re-record of “I Like You.” (Actually, it’s not much of a re-write at all, and is very faithful to the original! It only contains a few vocal tweaks and a slight tempo change to set it apart from its 1979 counterpart!)
Although this is my original composition, the final arrangement on the 1979 single by "The Sussed" was very much a group effort. Acknowledgements should go to David Powell (better known as Dave Bass) for his manic bass line, Roger Boden for his colourful - yet rock steady - drumming style, and Colin Hall (of Dansette Damage) for his (Beatles-esq) backing vocal arrangement - all elements I have attempted to re-create for this new recording.
Hopefully, I have captured the excitement and the energy of the original, and it can now appeal to a whole new generation! Running a tight 2 minutes and 54 seconds, it's in like a flash, slapped you in the face, then gone before you've even realised what happened!
Instruments used: Yamaha DT III Express digital drums, Hofner Violin Bass and a very old and battle hardened Fender Stratocaster (as used on the original!... )
Enjoy! |
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| Composer: |
Kevin Law |
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| Filesize: |
2.7MB |
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| Song Info: |
(Rock and Roll) Time Machine
A BRAND NEW song, and the result of a four-way internet collaboration...
This has been a wonderful INTERNATIONAL collaboration to work on. What started out as a germ of an idea has finally become a complete song with very distinct influences from all involved. Although (technically) I wrote the music, and Rich (and Bryan) wrote the lyrics, the overall finished product is very much a group affair… For instance, Bryan helped me fix the bridge section and added some very cool keyboards, Rich and Bryan devised and arranged all the backing vocals (which Bryan performed single handed), and David added his own very unique bass line - plus a few nifty MIDI tricks to provide a full-on brass section!
I also think we may have succeeded by refusing the rush the project. This track has been assembled carefully over a period of almost three weeks - with many on-line conferences to fine tune ideas - so pre-planning was an essential element… Also, time differences and sheer distance between us took a fair amount of discipline (and patience). David’s mailbox would have, on average, around 10-15 new messages every morning with new tracks, suggestions and ideas… He’s a great producer to work with.- skilful, patient, receptive and, above all, steadfast and firm about what he believes is best for the track.
Lead vocals and general internet mayhem - ricardo_vicente (from Musicmakerz forum - Germany)
Drums, acoustic guitar, lead guitar - Captain Jack (that's me! - Great Britain)
Keyboards, guitar and backing vocals - Bryan (Muse member - USA)
Bass guitar, Brass MIDI programming, mixing and production - Davidinoz (from Musicmakerz forum - Australia)
So, folks, for your perusal and entertainment, I would like to invite you back to the 1975...
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| Lyrics: |
(Rock and Roll) Time Machine
*****
Got a feeling, the coolest feeling
We're gonna travel back in time
Cos I see you, with your blue jeans on
and you're bouncing up and down in time
The bass is thumping,
the crowd is jumping
The singer lets it "all hang out"
The guitars are cranked way up loud...
Are you reminiscing about the old days?
Wishing they wrote the songs in the same way?
Like they used to be, back when you and me
Were so young and free
Why don't you come and take a ride with me?
You can re-live all your teenage dreams
Come for a spin, it's a magical thing
My Rock and Roll Time Machine...
When the band plays, the teenage "pop-kids"
go crazy like you've never seen
And you tell me, with that look in your eye
That you always wanna stay seventeen
Dancing all night
feeling alright
Won't you tell me where you've been?
Won't you tell me what you've seen?
Are you reminiscing about the old days?
Wishing they wrote the songs in the same way?
Like they used to be, back when you and me
Were so young and free
Why don't you come and take a ride with me?
You can re-live all your teenage dreams
Come for a spin, it's a magical thing
My Rock and Roll Time Machine...
(spoken) take a ride in my time machine... I'll show you things you've forgotten you've seen... I'll take you back to those places... You know, those places... Where a thousand times you've been...
Are you reminiscing about the old days?
Wishing they wrote the songs in the same way?
Like they used to be, back when you and me
Were so young and free
Why don't you come and take a ride with me?
You can re-live all your teenage dreams
Come for a spin, it's a magical thing
My Rock and Roll Time Machine...
copyright Musicmakerz/Backstabbers Productions 2005
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| Lyrics Author: |
K Law/R Lindsay/B Simmons |
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| Composer: |
K Law/R Lindsay/B Simmons |
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| Filesize: |
3.7MB |
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| Song Info: |
(Love is) There for the Taking
Here is the final version of yet another re-write of a 26-year-old song! It was originally written in 1978 as an appreciation of 70's commercial reggae (Ken Booth, Judge Dread etc.) and this song went through many different guises over the years. It was recorded TWICE by the Sussed, with each version almost unrecognisable from the last - apart from the classic backbeat rhythm track.
At the time of its original inception, we tried to capture that innocent (almost Carry-On) style of innuendo, which was very popular during the 70's (Big 5, Big 7 etc). The first version missed the point completely, and was - well - just too darn rude, and the second version lost its way totally with the addition of two female vocalists and by making the song a "duet". However, the original version (entitled "Don't Worry I'm Coming") remained on the Sussed’s gig list until the very end - and was always popular with our audience. Back then, it was almost customary to have a "token" reggae track - think the Clash's "Police and Thieves".
OK - right up to date now! April 2005. The song has, quite literally, been stripped down to its chassis and rebuilt from the springs up! It now has brand new lyrics (and a new title) and the whole sound has been given an "upbeat" summer feel (imagine yourself sitting around the pool with an ice cold drink, and you should get the idea!)!
So - here is what could be described as the sequel to "Another Christmas One Hit Wonder", and I hope you like - what I gave the working title of - "Another SUMMER One Hit Wonder!"
Features Penny Lavender assisting with lead vocals, Yamaha DT Express Digital Drums, Casio CTK keyboard (taking care of the organ and brass), Precision Bass, and hidden in there somewhere is my Gibson Les Paul Classic... |
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| Composer: |
K Law/D Powell/J Whyte |
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| Filesize: |
3.5MB |
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This song is like a breath of fresh air. Can't stop singing it. Amazing, it really should be on the Crimbo compilations along with Slade and Wizard, it makes you want to party, I wouldn't even have to get wasted to party to this one!
Jayne Whyte |
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Jayne Whyte
November 28th, 2005 |
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In a world where corporate rockers like Green Day are considered punk, its so refreshing to hear a real punk band with the 70's sound and feel.
...not to mention There for the Taking with a pure ska sound, outstanding! |
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Gordon Ferguson
June 22nd, 2005 |
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classic punk. jack spanner has done some great stuff here, while still capturing the 70's rawness. Some damn fine tunes. make some space on your mp3 player, get these, and enjoy. |
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Eddie Leonard
June 22nd, 2005 |
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Hey there cjs[captain jack spanner] i love ya web and ya mus it rocks plus got any spear time left for tomorrow at 5.00 and teach me left hand guitering kay. |
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Carse Kawn
May 26., 2005 |
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if youve heard the original 70s version of i like you youll realize just how faithful it is to it! keep the classic songs comin, cap'n! |
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Lost Asses
March 20th, 2005 |
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